By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The Niger State government has commenced a 20- year development plan for a new Bida town to strategically modernise the ancient city.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago stated this at a Town Hall Meeting/Stakeholders Engagement on ‘New Bida 20 Years Development Plan’ organized by the Niger State ministry of Lands and Survey in collaboration with
New Niger Development Projects NNDP) in Bida local government area of Niger state.
He explain that the 20-year New Bida development plan is aimed at boosting and engendering rapid socio-economic development of the town’ adding that “much attention would be in the areas of modern social amenities for growth and development”. This he said will be extended to other cities including Suleja, Kontagora a Minna respectively.
He said, ” a new city will also spring up in the area and social amenities, improve land values of over 300,000 plots worth billions of naira to be created for New Bida. Also a 100 megawatt solar farm will be provided for the inhabitants in the area”.
The Governor however advised the communities to be wary of land grabbers and speculators and urged them to embark on planting of economic trees to improve their land values especially during compensation.
He urged the people to be patient, show understanding and support the projects, adding that the State Government would not collect anybody’s land
Bago explained that the development is going to be in phases of 20 years short term and 50 years long term plans adding that over 3 million trailers passing through can generate N3 billion IGR monthly.
Earlier, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar allayed fears of communities on confiscation of their lands’ advising the people to cooperate with the state government in the efforts to develop Bida town aimed at ensuring a better future for the unborn generations.
In his welcome speech, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Barrister Maurice Magaji, defined the event as a defining moment and a shared commitment to transform Bida into an economically vibrant city, adding that the plan provides a foundation for sustainable growth, shape plans to meet the aspirations of the people and environmental resilience, among others.
